Back Cove 37 Downeast

Back Cove 37 Downeast

- Steve Knauth

The dream was always there. “For years, I would go past marinas on beautiful summer days, full of boats that no one ever seemed to use,” says Peter Clarke. “I vowed that if I bought a boat, it would not sit tied to a dock each weekend. I liked the idea of the sense of exploration it would give me.”

With the kids off to college, it was time for Clarke, 56, and his wife, Jennifer, to make the dream a reality. Two years ago, the Madison, Connecticut, couple stepped up from a 26-foot weekender to a full-fledged cruiser, the Back Cove 37 Downeast, a twin-cabin, single-diesel boat built in Rockland, Maine. They made the voyage home from Portland, Maine, themselves, and they’ve been cruising ever since.

“I’ve always admired the Back Cove style, layout and finish. It really represents what I think a boat should be,” Clarke says. “Some boats trade off form over function or vice versa. I think the Back Cove has a great blend of both. It has a great cockpit for entertaining or just catching the sun, a nice saloon that is perfect for conversation and an accessible galley so you are never in a hole when preparing drinks or food. It has a great flow to it — bright and airy.”

The Clarkes bought the boat through DiMillo’s Yacht Sales (dimillosyachtsales.com) in Portland, Maine, which specializes in Back Coves. “They know the boat and the folks that love them, and that goes a long way when you are making a big purchase,” Clarke says. “They stand behind the product.”